ACTRESS Dame Harriet Walter helped to celebrate Dorset Women’s Day in Dorchester at the weekend.

The TV star and author, who has appeared in Law and Order, Midsomer Murders and Downton Abbey, attended the event as patron of Women’s Action Network Dorset (WAND).

The group’s other patron, author and performance poet Tracey West, also attended.

WAND’s ninth Dorset Women’s Day at the Dorford Centre in Dorchester on Saturday helped to celebrate Inter-national Woman’s Day on March 8.

Opening the event, Dame Harriet said: “It’s a great honour to be here, the event is a real celebration of women’s creativity with some brilliant arts, crafts, cakes and more.

“I’ve seen hundreds of smiling faces enjoying themselves, co-operating and working together.”

Tracey West added: “I have been a patron of WAND since 2011 – Women’s Day is about celebrating sisterhood and reinforcing the fact that we are really important.”

There was something for everyone at the event, from stallholders promoting everything relating to womanhood as well as workshops, including crochet, scrapbooking, publishing, jewellery making, pottery and cookery.

Stallholder Joanna Williams started her Little Craft Collectors business recently and said the day offered a fantastic opportunity for businesses.

There was also an art exhibition by Jenna Whyman, who is studying at Weymouth College.

She said: “I have previously suffered domestic abuse and am showing my work to raise awareness of the issue as well as support Women’s Day.”

Mayor of Dorchester Stella Jones said: “It’s wonderful to see all the stalls here today; the day allows women to talk together and it’s fantastic the event is raising money for such good causes.”